Hunting Dog

The large size of this canine, weighing up to 125 pounds, and tremendous strength makes the Otterhound a good hunting dog for anything from small mink and raccoon to bear and mountain lion. Though the Otterhound can hunt alone, it usually hunts in packs.
The Otterhound has a thick course outer coat that serves as a protection from shrubs and bushes. The Otterhound is also known for its long strides which he can keep up for hours on the hunt.
But as the name suggests, the original Otterhound was bred for the specific purpose of hunting otters which were destroying the trout population in rivers and streams in the United Kingdom. The fishermen could not afford to have their livelihood jeopardized in this fashion and so the Otterhound was selected to rid the fisherman of this pest. [...]

The Otterhound, referred to as a scent dog, was interbred with bloodhounds and Southern hounds for the specific purpose of tracking Otters in the United Kingdom. Though no longer used for this purpose, Otterhounds still enjoy hunting as an activity and hunt Mink in the U.K. They serve as a means to rid the farmer of these dreaded pests. In North America, they are used to hunt raccoons, bears and even mountain lions.
Of course since these scent hounds love hunting they would no doubt love agility training. Agility training originated in England around 1978; this sport for canines was borrowed from horse steeplechases, a jumping activity. Today this sport is very popular and is growing in leaps and bounds. Both large and small dogs can participate in the fun. [...]

Otterhounds are descendants of the bloodhound and an ancestor of the Airedale. They are large dogs weighing up to 125 pounds. By and far the Otterhound is a working dog, first bred in England in the 13th century to rid the waters of pesky Otters that were killing out the fish population. These dogs are definitely water dogs, with web feet and a thick course water proof undercoat. They are excellent swimmers with the stamina to swim for hours chasing their prey. [...]

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen offers owners a very unique and useful type of dog. These dogs are designed to be hunters and to help their masters in located and catching their prey, whatever it may be that their master wants them to retrieve. They are not aggressive dogs. They are not fearful or shy dogs either. They are devoted, hard working dogs known by their temperament and their ability to obey. They are also well known for their hunting skills. The hunter that is looking for a dependable companion on his hunting trips should take consideration of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen for all that it can offer. [...]

If you want the perfect place to put a Sussex Spaniel, it is back in Great Britain in the midst of a pack of dogs that are out game hunting. Seriously, though, this dog does love the hunt and is ideally suited for this activity. It originated in Sussex, England, from where it got its name, and has been used by the English in game hunting with great results. It's beautiful gold liver color blends it perfectly with the barks of trees at sunset, camouflaging it so that the prey does not even see it at times. The coat is water resistant too and the dog loves to swim, helping hunters to collect prey that has fallen in the water. It is a very active dog that will happily romp through the woods and bay when it finds something. [...]

During the Han Dynasty, it's said that the Chinese Crested dogs served one of two purposes. First, they could be guard dogs in palaces and mansions, alerting their human counterparts to the presence of intruders and seeking out these trespassers. Second, the heavier ones might serve as hunting dogs. The former probably did not envy the latter, as a Chinese Crested hunting dog who fails to bring home any meat was still expected to feed the hungry family, whatever that might entail! In fact, when the communists came into power in China, there was a ban placed on pets of any sort and dogs of all breeds have since become incredibly rare in that country. Luckily, the Chinese Cresteds accompanied their masters on trade vessels and fathered litters of puppies in Africa and other continents and the breed survived. [...]

As sometimes occurs, the origins of the Harrier breed are somewhat shrouded in mystery; various accounts exist regarding exactly how and when the dogs developed. The first known pack of actual Harriers existed in the year 1260, so everyone agrees that the breed is quite old. But where exactly did these dogs come from? One theory is that very early crossings between Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds and extinct Talbot Hounds resulted in these mysterious dogs. Another theory postulates other crosses: between the English Foxhound, the Greyhound and the Fox Terrier. The last theory, and the one which many people accept, is that these dogs were merely the "next size down" of the Foxhound and were developed by simply breeding down the latter. [...]

The Finnish Spitz is one of the oldest known breeds and enjoys a long legacy across centuries. Along with its proud lineage, these dogs also possess certain unique characteristics and are known for some of the most interesting facts associated to their history and development. [...]

The Finnish Spitz is a small-sized, rugged breed, with a fox-like appearance and a lively temperament. A member of the small hunting breeds, the Finnish Spitz originated in Finland and is one of the oldest known breeds, with the breed standards dating back to 1812.
Known as the Finsk Spets and Suomen-pystyykorva in Finland, meaning the "Finnish prick-eared dog", these dogs are famous for their hunting and watchdog capabilities. The Gun Dogs, as they are often referred to, exhibit a perfect combination of the finer attributes of the Setter, Pointer, and the Retriever. [...]

All dogs have an amazing sense of smell, much more advanced than that of a human. That sense of smell was improved in certain breeds, and these breeds were used to "track" game or people; tracking involves following a scent trail left by a person or animal and a dog's ability to track has proven to be useful to humans on many occasions. Dogs have been used to track missing persons and they have been used to track prey on hunts. The Harrier is a breed of dog that was developed as a scent hound, with an excellent sense of smell. While Harriers are not used on the hunt as often as they once were, you can still put that nose to good use and have your dog participate in tracking activities and games. [...]

All dogs have an amazing sense of smell, much more advanced than that of a human. That sense of smell was improved in certain breeds, and these breeds were used to "track" game or people; tracking involves following a scent trail left by a person or animal and a dog's ability to track has proven to be useful to humans on many occasions. Dogs have been used to track missing persons and they have been used to track prey on hunts. The Harrier is a breed of dog that was developed as a scent hound, with an excellent sense of smell. While Harriers are not used on the hunt as often as they once were, you can still put that nose to good use and have your dog participate in tracking activities and games. [...]

While people today are used to the sight of a dog performing a number of different tasks, like watchdog, therapy dog, companion, and participant in a number of organized canine competitions, among other things, dogs were not always seen as such versatile animals. This was especially true regarding the hunting dog, a prized possession for pre-19th century nobility, who counted their dogs among their vast wealth. Indeed, in Europe hunting became viewed as a sport only for the wealthy, who essentially owned all the land and so were the only ones to have the right to hunt on any given patch of land. [...]

Irish terriers were originally bred to be fox hunting dogs. Today, however, these dogs are mostly used as companion dogs. They are well suited to families, provided they are trained consistently and at a young age to tame the terrier's natural daredevil and strong willed nature. Though most people do not hunt with their Irish terriers today, some of the natural instincts that this breed carries can be quite beneficial in a family pet. If you properly understand and use these tendencies, you can bring out the best in your Irish terrier. [...]

Most Irish terrier owners in the United States own their dogs as companions. Irish terriers make great watchdogs and good family pets, so long as they are properly trained. However, the Irish terrier was bred to be a small hunting dog, and is still one of the best breeds you can use for hunting small prey. [...]